Thirty Years Later . . . Catching Up with the Marcos-Era Crimes. Myles Garcia

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СКАЧАТЬ worth and earn my own place in the sun. By the way, I left some three weeks before martial law was declared by the tonton macoute Marcos and slammed the gates shut. So I moved to the US on my own in August, 1972.

      Mini-History of the Philippines

      For the reader unfamiliar with the history of the Philippines, the islands were discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan and colonization by Spain began in 1565. Except for its geographic location, the Philippines are almost like a stray co-colony of the Latin American countries who shared the common Hispanic culture, names, and Roman Catholic religion with. Hispanic Philippines (or its real name in Spanish, Las Islas Filipinas, named after King Philip II of Spain) officially came to an end in 1898 when American Admiral George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay with the US Pacific fleet and assaulted the Spanish garrison there.

      The Philippines, along with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam, were ceded to the United States by Spain with the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Thus, the Philippines entered its democratic, American phase in which the present economic, educational, and judicial systems were begun. The two countries then together endured and fought out a third aggressor, Imperial Japan, in World War II. Barely a year after the war’s end, the US kept its word and granted the Philippines its independence on July 4, 1946. Thus, this capsule description of Philippine history: 300 years in a Spanish convent; 50 years in Hollywood; and 70 years in a Lost, Chaotic Wilderness.

      Some background information—Presidents of the Philippines:

      Since the American Commonwealth time:

      Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944; died in exile in the US)

      Occupation government (2^nd Republic – Japanese caretaker government):

      Jose P. Laurel (1943 – 1945)

      Sergio P. Osmeña (1944 – 1946)

      The 3^rd Republic – a truly independent Philippines:

      Manuel Roxas (1946 – 1948)

      Elpidio Quirino (1948 – 1953)

      Ramon Magsaysay (1953 – 1957)

      Carlos P. Garcia (1957 – 1961)

      Diosdado Macapagal (1961 – 1965)

      Ferdinand Marcos (1965 – 1986; expelled February 26, 1986)

      Corazon Aquino (1986 – 1992)

      Fidel V. Ramos (1992 – 1998)

      Joseph E. Estrada (1998 – 2001; impeached in 2001)

      Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001 – 2010)

      Benigno Aquino, III (2010 – 2016)

      (12^th president? to be filled in May/June 2016)

      Similar Government Infrastructures

      Because many of the events narrated here, especially much litigation, took place both in the Philippines and the United States, and because I wrote this book with that dual audience in mind, I have tried to differentiate where certain events transpired (especially, say, in rendering of certain legal decisions—whether it’s in the Philippine or American or New York State Supreme Courts). This is to present a clear narrative of many events since the government infrastructures of both countries are alike, and the Philippine version is based on the US model—although many of the court rulings, especially in the chapter on Recovering the Stolen Loot, will be seemingly contradictory to each other. Where I have failed to state the differences, I beg the reader’s indulgence.

      Filipino Nicknames

      For readers who aren’t familiar with Filipino terminology, we tend to mix affectionate nicknames with the more formal, given Christian first names. You may have Cory (for Corazon), Ninoy for the assassinated husband of Cory and senator, Benigno Aquino, Jr. or II; Noynoy, the current president, going out in 2016. There are Bongbong Marcos (Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.); Meldy (for Imelda), Kokoy (for her younger brother, Benjamin), etc. Its interchangeable use is ingrained in us, and indeed there are nuances of affection or disaffection intended in each particular use.

      Other uniquely Philippine terms or concepts pertinent to this book:

      -Bangko Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) – Central Bank of the Philippines

      -February 1986 – the period referred to in the expulsion of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from power, being “booted out of power,” “sent packing,” “sent to exile”. . . or such similar terms.

      -“Juan de la Cruz” is the allegorical embodiment of the Filipino, much the same was as Uncle Sam or “Columbia” is for the US, John Bull for Great Britain, or “Marianne” for France.

      -“Malacañang” is the presidential residence in Manila (so the equivalent of the White House or the combined Buckingham Palace/Ten Downing Street of the Philippines).

      -The PCGG is the Presidential Commission for Good Govern-ment; a specially created government body tasked with pursuing and returning the ill-gotten wealth the Marcoses, their families and friends acquired while in power. The PCGG was created by one of the first Presidential Executive acts of Cory Aquino after she quickly took over from Marcos.

      -PhP for the Philippine peso, the currency of the Philippines.

      -Phil., abbreviation for “Philippines” which I may use sometimes.

      -Sandiganbayan (which roughly means “People’s Advocate”) is a special anti-graft court meant to try graft and “plunder” cases. Strangely enough, it was first established in 1973, a year after Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Like the proverbial boomerang karma, the post-Marcos years’ Sandiganbayan pursued and tried many Marcos conspirators and co-plunderers.

      -terno, Filipino term for the butterfly-sleeved, lady’s native dress that Imelda Marcos popularized and became identified with.

      Acknowledgements

      This book would not have been possible without the encouragement and moral support of friends Susan Po Rufino and Mila de Guzman. Thanks must also go to certain parties who shared very intimate stories about the Marcoses but would prefer to remain anonymous. Special mention is made of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training for allowing me to reprint the article which constitutes Chapter III. Much appreciation to digital artist Jennifer Valdez for her supreme patience in helping execute the cover concepts and ideas; and finally to Darwin Patnode, my editor, for his expertise and eagle-eye for detail, in bringing the manuscript to a truly professional level.

      References and Bibliography

      Because no book today exists without its electronic version, this book will depart from the standard practice of having detailed footnotes and references at the end of the book. Unfortunately, until such time the traditional book format becomes available for eBook versions, I will place references at the end of each chapter. This is an expedient way to overcome the limitations of electronic book versions even though the footnoting format will be done away with. Because of the preponderance of material issued on the Internet, and why should I be any different in not availing of the ease of the internet in writing this book, a lot of material here comes from the Internet. As such, where СКАЧАТЬ